What are the penalties for obstruction of a public officer in Nevada?

Obstruction of a government officer is prosecuted as a misdemeanor in Nevada. The possible sentence may include: up to six (6) months in jail, and/or up to $1,000 in fines. For a first offense, the judge may agree to dismiss the charge after you completed the sentencing terms. A dismissal means there is no conviction.

NRS § 197.190 - Obstructing a Public Officer

Q: What does NRS 197.190 do?

NRS 197.190 defines the Nevada crime of obstructing a public officer, which comprises either of the following three actions: refusing to give information -- or neglecting to give information -- to a public officer when you are legally required to; or deliberately lying to a public officer; or deliberately hindering a public officer from carrying out official duties. A public officer is any state government or local government employee in Nevada. This includes everyone from police officers and judges to councilmen and senators. In short, it is illegal to hamper government officers from doing their job. Note that it is generally not considered obstruction to refuse to tell a police officer your name unless the refusal would make it more difficult for the police to do their job.

Q: What are the best defenses?

Which defenses are most effective in a Nevada obstruction of government officer case depends on the facts of the incident. Three common defense strategies are: 1) Your actions were legal: Just because a government officer believes they were obstructed does not necessarily mean it happened. 2) You were falsely accused: Perhaps the public officer was frustrated and accused you out of frustration. Or perhaps you were misidentified as the actual person who committed the obstruction. 3) You did not act willfully: Giving misinformation to a government officer is a crime only if you knew that it was misinformation.

Q: Is this crime deportable?

Violating NRS 197.190 is not typically classified as a deportable offense. However, any non-citizen facing criminal charges may be vulnerable to being thrown out of the United States, especially in the current political climate where immigration laws seem to be in a constant state of flux. Immigrants who have been charged with a crime are encouraged to seek legal counsel from an attorney experienced in both immigration and criminal law. The attorney may be able to persuade the D.A. to drop the case or else change the charge to a non-deportable offense.

Q: When can I get a criminal record seal?

If you are convicted of obstructing a government officer, you must wait one (1) year before you can get a record seal. Though if the case gets dismissed (meaning there was no conviction), then you can get a record seal right away. The criminal record seal process is very lengthy and confusing, and one mistake can set you back months.

NRS § 197.190 is the Nevada statute that makes it a crime to obstruct a public officer. This is defined as making false statements to, hindering, or withholding information from a public officer.

Public officers include public government employees such as police or judges.

The language of NRS 197.190 states that:

Every person who, after due notice, shall refuse or neglect to make or furnish any statement, report or information lawfully required of the person by any public officer, or who, in such statement, report or information shall make any willfully untrue, misleading or exaggerated statement, or who shall willfully hinder, delay or obstruct any public officer in the discharge of official powers or duties, shall, where no other provision of law applies, be guilty of a misdemeanor.

Obstructing a public officer is a misdemeanor offense, carrying a maximum punishment of:

6 months in jail, and/or
$1,000 in fines

A defense attorney may be able to plea bargain the case down to a full dismissal. Three typical defense strategies to obstruction allegations are:

your behavior was not obstruction,
you were falsely accused, or
you had no criminal intent

In this article, our Las Vegas Nevada criminal defense attorneys discuss the following obstructing a government officer topics:

1. What does NRS 197.190 do?

NRS 197.190 defines the Nevada crime of obstructing a public officer, which comprises either of the following three actions:

refusing to give information — or neglecting to give information — to a public officer when you are legally required to; or
deliberately lying to a public officer; or
deliberately hindering a public officer from carrying out official duties

A “public officer” is any state government or local government employee in Nevada. This includes everyone from police officers and judges to councilmen and senators.¹

In short, it is illegal to hamper government officers from doing their job. Note that it is generally not considered obstruction to refuse to tell a police officer your name unless the refusal would make it more difficult for the police to do their job: ²

Example: A police officer gets a tip that Ken has trespassed into a casino that he was banned from. The police officer approaches Ken and asks Ken his name. Ken refuses to tell him. In this situation, Ken could probably be arrested for obstruction because his name was necessary to the police’s investigation of the trespass.³

Driver arguing with a police officer who is trying to give him a ticket

NRS 197.190 makes obstruction of police a misdemeanor.

2. What are the penalties?

Obstruction of a government officer is prosecuted as a misdemeanor in Nevada. The possible sentence may include:

up to six (6) months in jail, and/or
up to $1,000 in fines⁴

For a first offense, the judge may agree to “dismiss” the charge after you complete the sentencing terms. A dismissal means there is no conviction.

3. What are the best defenses?

Which defenses are most effective in a Nevada “obstruction of government officer” case depends on the facts of the incident. Three common defense strategies are:

Your actions were legal: Just because a government officer believes they were obstructed does not necessarily mean it happened. Perhaps the officer misconstrued your actions or had a misconception about what obstruction is. As long as the prosecutor cannot prove that your actions rose to the level of obstruction, you are not criminally liable for obstructing a public officer.
You were falsely accused: Perhaps the public officer was frustrated and accused you out of frustration. Or perhaps you were misidentified as the actual person who committed the obstruction. If the defense attorney can show that you were the victim of false accusations, criminal charges should not stand.
You did not act willfully: Giving misinformation to a government officer is a crime only if you knew that it was misinformation. If you genuinely believed everything you conveyed was truthful and accurate, then no NRS 197.190 violation occurred.

Remember that the prosecution bears the burden to prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before you may be convicted. If the defense attorney can show that the state’s evidence against you is too problematic, inconclusive or nonexistent, any obstruction of public officer charges should be dismissed.

4. Is this crime deportable?

Violating NRS 197.190 is not typically classified as a deportable offense. However, any non-citizen facing criminal charges may be vulnerable to being thrown out of the United States, especially in the current political climate where immigration laws seem to be in a constant state of flux.

Immigrants who have been charged with a crime are encouraged to seek legal counsel from an attorney experienced in both immigration and criminal law. The attorney may be able to persuade the D.A. to drop the case or else change the charge to a non-deportable offense.

5. When can I get a criminal record seal?

If you are convicted of “obstructing a government officer”, you must wait one (1) year before you can get a record seal.⁵ Though if the case gets dismissed (meaning there was no conviction), then you can get a record seal right away.⁶

The criminal record seal process is very lengthy and confusing, and one mistake can set you back months. Learn more about how to apply to seal a Nevada criminal record.

Man's hand physically holding back police in violation of NRS 197.190

Obstructing police carries up to six months in jail and/or up to $1,000 in fines.

6. Related offenses

Interfering with a public officer (NRS 197.090)

Interfering with a government officer is like a more serious version of obstruction. In contrast to obstructing a public officer — which comprises more passive non-cooperation — interfering with a government officer comprises more active attempts to keep a public officer from performing their legal duties by the use of

force,
violence or
threats.

Violating NRS 197.090 is a gross misdemeanor, carrying

up to 364 days in jail and/or
up to $2,000 in fines.

Resisting arrest (NRS 199.280)

Resisting arrest is deliberately hindering police from carrying out legal duties, such as making an arrest. Violating NRS 199.280 with no weapons is a misdemeanor, carrying

up to six (6) months in jail and/or
up to $1,000 in fines.

However, the crime becomes a felony if you have firearms or other weapons.

Evading police (NRS 484B.550)

Evading police under NRS 484B.550 occurs when someone intentionally continues to drive after police have signaled for the driver to stop by flashing the red light and sounding the siren. It is typically prosecuted as a misdemeanor, carrying

up to six (6) months in jail and/or
up to $1,000 in fines.

However, evading becomes a felony if the driver

was driving dangerously,
was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or
caused injury or death.

Learn more in our article on evading police and causing injury.

Making a false police report (NRS 207.280)

Making a false police report is knowingly making a false report to police that a criminal offense has occurred.

Violating NRS 207.280 is a misdemeanor, carrying

up to six (6) months in jail and/or
up to $1,000 in fines.

In addition, you may be ordered to reimburse the police for any costs the police incurred while investigating the false claim.

Battery on a police officer (NRS 200.481)

As it sounds, battery of a police officer is inflicting unlawful physical force on a member of law enforcement. Examples include

punching,
spitting on, or
throwing objects at.

Battering a police officer is typically a gross misdemeanor, carrying

up to 364 days in jail and/or
up to $2,000 in fines.

However, if you strangled the officer or caused them to sustain substantial bodily harm, battery on a police officer becomes a category B felony. These penalties include:

two to ten (2 – 10) years in Nevada State Prison, and/or
up to $10,000 in fines

Note that the prison range may be increased to fifteen (15) years if the incident involves a deadly weapon.

Escaping from prison (NRS 212.090)

Escaping custody occurs when suspects or convicts escape from prison, jail, or police custody. The penalties turn on the underlying crime you were incarcerated for.

Legal References

NRS 197.190 – Obstructing public officer. Every person who, after due notice, shall refuse or neglect to make or furnish any statement, report or information lawfully required of the person by any public officer, or who, in such statement, report or information shall make any willfully untrue, misleading or exaggerated statement, or who shall willfully hinder, delay or obstruct any public officer in the discharge of official powers or duties, shall, where no other provision of law applies, be guilty of a misdemeanor. See also Willson v. Dist. Ct. (2024) 140 Nev. Adv. Op. 7 (“We conclude that (1) NRS 197.190 applies only to physical conduct or fighting words that are specifically intended to hinder, delay, or obstruct a public officer and, therefore, (2) NRS 197.190, as construed by this court, is not unconstitutionally overbroad or vague[.]”).
Carey v. Nev. Gaming Control Bd. (9th Cir., 2002) 279 F.3d 873 (Refusing to give one’s name to police is not grounds for arrest if the name is not necessary for the police to carry out their duties.).
Tsao v. Desert Palace, Inc. (9th Cir., 2012) 698 F.3d 1128 (Not giving the police one’s name can be considered obstruction — and grounds for arrest — when the name is necessary for the police to carry out its duties).
NRS 197.190.
NRS 179.245.
NRS 179.255.

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NRS § 197.190 – Obstructing a Public Officer – Nevada Law